Introduction: Rope Ladder

So you need a way to get up and down from your tree house, but you left you ladder at home. Don't worry, just grab some rope and make this cool rope ladder.

Step 1: The Ropes

If you only have one rope, you can just fold it in half and start about 1 ft from the middle. I have used two ropes as it is easier to demonstrate with two different coloured ropes.

Step 2: The 'S'

Start the first rung by making a 'S' shape with the rope on the right (orange)

Step 3: The Wraping

Now pass the left rope (blue) over the top rope of the orange 'S'. Then under the middle and bottom ropes of the 'S'. You will wrap the blue rope around the three strands of the 'S'. Try to keep the wraps as neat and as tight as possible, this will make for a sturdier ladder. You will need between 8 and 12 full wraps for each rung, depending on the diameter of your rope. When you have enough wraps tread the working end of the blue rope through the orange loop sticking out of the end of the rung.

Step 4: Finishing the Rung

Tighten the loop by pulling the orange rope sticking out the left-hand side of the rung. This will hold the blue rope tight and complete the first rung. As you can see the blue and orange ropes have now changed sides.

Step 5: The Second Rung

For making the second rung, follow the same steps as before but the ropes have changed places. Come down the blue rope about the same distance as the width of the first rung and then make a 'S' shape with the rope. Pass the orange rope over, under and under the blue 'S'. Make your wrappings with the orange rope. Pass trough the blue loop and tighten by pulling the blue tail.

Step 6: Finishing Off

Finish the ladder by repeating steps 1-5 until you run out of rope or you reach the desired length. Care should be given that each rung is level and tight. Depending on what rope you use there may be some stretching and it may feel springy when in use.

As with most things, it is best to practice this skill before you need rely on it or make one and store it in your Den or shed until needed.

I accidently got several 100 feet in black and blue for a belt , ( I tell you a secret( I have trouble with inches and feet. AsI grew up in Norway and Germany) LOL.thank you for kind reply.I am proud to be an American Citicen. Just not In inches

Again this depends on the type of rope you use, I used 9mm rope, the rung had 12 full wraps which made it approx 130mm wide. The 'S' side used approx 450mm and the wrapping side used approx 1150mm. This will change with the diameter and the type of rope used.Also the spacing between the rungs will affect the length of rope needed. I hope this answered your question, your best bet would be to try it out and experiment with different rung widths and spacing.

Hi jake99, this one really depends on the type of rope and its diameter. I gave a breakdown in the comments bellow (see 'rope to ladder length ratio'). but at a guess I would think two 50ft lengths of rope should be long enough for a 20ft+ ladder. I would suggest experimentation as the number of rungs will also affect the outcome.

I used 9mm rope, the rung had 12 full wraps which made it approx 130mm wide. The 'S' side used approx 450mm and the wrapping side used approx 1150mm. This will change with the diameter and the type of rope used.I hope this answered your question.

Your rope should have a rating or a breaking strength on the lable when you buy it or you could ask the shop assistant. Sometimes makers have breaking strength charts on their web sites.

If you are using old rope that's a bit different. Ropes lose strength over time, how much depends on how they were stored, used and possibly damaged over its life. So if you don't know your ropes history you should test it at low level before using it at potentially dangerous heights.

On the rope to ladder length ratio. I used 9mm rope, the rung had 12 full wraps which made it approx 130mm wide. The 'S' side used approx 450mm and the wrapping side used approx 1150mm. This will change with the diameter and the type of rope used.I hope this answered your question.

haha I see what you mean! I did make it with blue polypropylene rope but the climbing rope made it look nicer and easier to explain. Yes I would save this one for your retired ropes, once they can still take a load!